Description: Women engaged in the tea
ceremony and playing go.Comment: There are a number of
prints showing the "acceptable" pursuits of women, and this one is
typical. Activities of the Yoshiwara were not included although many
"establishments" in the Yoshiwara had go boards for their patrons.Copyright: Douglas Cable

Chikanobu
1838-1912

Published: 1883.Description: Futomaki & Ariwara
of Tsunebi-Ro playing Japanese backgammon, with a go board in the
background.Series: Honored Courtesans: #3"Comment: I would like to think that the
green table in the back is a billiard table, but I just can't convince
myself.Copyright: Douglas Cable

Chikashige

Published: 1881.Title: "Shogi & Go Players."Description: Triptych of the Empress
Meiji looking at the activities of court ladies.Comment: Another "lush" print.
After the early to mid 1860's, when aniline die from Europe became
available, colors (especially reds & greens) became much stronger,
with a different tone. Before that only vegetable, and other natural,
dyes were available, which were more subtle, although they were more
susceptible to fading. Some critics accuse the newer prints to be harsh
and clashing, unless the colors were handled with some delicacy.Copyright: Douglas Cable

Published: circa 1835.Comment: Hokuga was a pupil of the
famous Hokusai. This print shows Shoki, on the right, and an oni (demon)
playing go at Onamiyama. It's unusual in that it depicts the scene on
the folded-over page of a book. Shoki, a demon killer, is a familiar
Japanese figure with an often comic aspect.Copyright: Douglas Cable

Kado

Published: circa 1900Comment: Instead of an ukiyo-e, this is
a "kuchi-e" (magazine insert), showing a woman bringing tea
to two men playing go. It has two vertical fold marks, because of the
magazine insertion. Such illustrations generally have something to do
with one of the stories in the magazine, and this one is very unusual,
illustrating the game of go.Copyright: Douglas Cable

Kunichika
1835-1900

Published: January 1872Description: Courtesan Nagahama of the
Owari House enjoying Playing Go.Series: "Mitate Juroku Rakan No Ouchi"
- 16 Enjoyable Pastimes.Comment: The print doesn't indicate
where go stacks up on that list. We hope it's in the top 4 or 5. This
print is an example of a somewhat garish juxtaposition of aniline red
and green in close proximity.Copyright: Douglas Cable

Kunichika
1835-1900

Published: 1893Description: Actor Onoe Kikugoro 5
in the role of Konoshita Tokichi, in the play Gion Sairei Shinkoki;
he has just defeated the character at the top, Matsumaga Daien, in a
game of go. The edge of the go board, upside down, just shows on Onoe's
shoulder, and unless you know, it does not appear to be a go print.Series: "100 Roles of Onoe Kikugoro 5"Comment: This is a deluxe edition, with
metallic pigments, some of which have oxidized with time. There are
several go prints based upon this story, and Onoe's crossed eyes are
part of Japanese theater tradition.Copyright: Douglas Cable

Kunichika
1835-1900

Description: woodprint (ukiyo-e)Comment: Several of these Kunichika's
show the same play (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) with the same scene
(Tokichi presenting the go bowls to Daizen). See Pinckard, at Kiseido,
for complete details about the play, and this peculiar go scene.Copyright: Douglas Cable

Kunichika
1835-1900

Description: Actors in various roles,
possibly all concerning roles depicting the Soba Brothers. In some of
these go prints you really have to look for the go board.Copyright: Douglas Cable